tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2013-03-21:/blog/451312018-08-08T10:25:52ZMovable Type Enterprisetag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33830952018-08-08T10:26:52Z2018-08-08T10:25:52Z
Tragically, a woman lost her life after she was struck by a car on the morning of Aug. 5. Police in Colorado Springs are not expected to press charges against the driver involved. However, there still may be legal recourse available to the woman's family. In fatal car accidents, a wrongful death lawsuit may appropriate when the evidence suggests that a driver's negligence was the cause of the crash.

According to the accident report, the 36-year-old woman was crossing an intersection in Colorado Springs when the impact occurred. A sedan headed northbound apparently had a green light as it entered the intersection. The vehicle struck the woman, causing serious injury.

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The woman was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead a few days later on Aug. 9. The nature of her injuries was not released to the public. Police ruled out intoxication and reckless driving as potential causes, which means criminal charges are not likely to be forthcoming. No further information was released by police.

Just because no criminal charges are filed, some victims of car accidents or their families may still be entitled to sue the driver involved in the crash. The specifics of the accident are important, of course, and would need to be reviewed by an attorney to determine whether a family in similar circumstances has a solid case to proceed with a wrongful death suit. This would require that evidence be presented in civil court documenting that the driver was negligent in a manner that caused or materially contributed to the accident and death that resulted, in order for the court to consider awarding damages to the family.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33768912018-08-03T04:46:25Z2018-08-03T04:45:25Z
A serious car accident has sent four people to local hospitals, according to local sources. Authorities in Colorado Springs responded to a car crash on the afternoon of July 25. So far, the cause of this crash is still under investigation. As with many car accidents, this investigation could take time before analysts can determine what happened.

Very little information is available about the single-vehicle crash that occurred in the northbound lanes of Powers. Photo evidence from the scene suggests the vehicle was traveling at a fast rate of speed before striking an obstacle that destroyed the front of the car. The reason for this collision is not currently known.

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Four people, none of whom have been publicly identified by authorities, were in the car at the time of the crash. Two people escaped with only minor injuries, but two more sustained injuries described as serious. The damage to the car was so severe that one of the occupants had to be extracted from the wreckage. Police closed the northbound lanes to facilitate the investigation, headed by the Colorado Springs Police Department Major Accident Unit.

Depending on the outcome of their investigation, this case could take several paths. Car accidents that cause injury or death are usually investigated with an eye toward determining whether the driver was operating the vehicle safely at the time of the crash. In cases where driver error comes into play, criminal charges are sometimes filed (provided the driver survived the crash). In any case, the injured parties may be entitled to file civil personal injury suits against the driver or his/her estate for damages suffered in the accident.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33679632018-07-26T20:20:09Z2018-07-26T20:19:09Z
Two young people tragically lost their lives in a single-car crash near Redstone. Colorado State Patrol responded and closed Highway 133 in both directions to facilitate their investigation. As with most car accidents that result in fatalities, this investigation is still underway as of this report.

According to the accident report, a call was received at about noon on July 20 indicating a crash had taken place. It appears the 17-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to travel some 100 feet off the roadway before crashing. The driver, as well as a 19-year-old passenger traveling in the front seat, were both pronounced dead at the scene. They did not appear to be wearing seat belts.

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A third passenger, a 14-year-old male, was rushed to a local hospital with injuries described as serious. Police have not released the names of the victims, pending notification of the families. No criminal charges will be filed as the driver perished in the accident, but the investigation will continue until a cause for the accident is found.

If negligence, recklessness or other driver error is found to be the cause of this crash, the family of the deceased passenger and the family of the injured boy may have legal recourse available to them under Colorado law. In fatal car accidents, or accidents where persons are seriously injured, it is possible to file wrongful death and/or personal injury lawsuits against the driver or the driver's estate. In this case, anyone with ownership interest in the vehicle may also be named as defendants in civil suits of this type.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33525052018-07-16T21:21:24Z2018-07-16T21:20:25Z
One person has tragically lost his life following a car accident in Littleton on July 7. The 19-year-old man, a resident of Lakewood, Colorado, was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed. For the moment, no charges have been filed against the driver, but as with most fatal car accidents, the crash is still being investigated by police.

According to the accident report, a total of four people were in the vehicle at the time of the crash: a 19-year-old male driver, a 17-year-old male passenger, a 15-year-old male passenger and the aforementioned victim. The vehicle was headed south around 11:30 p.m. when the driver appeared to lose control while navigating a left-hand turn. This caused the vehicle to leave the right side of the road.

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The car crashed into a traffic control sign and rolled, ejecting three of the four occupants of the vehicle. None of the individuals in the car were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. The 19-year-old passenger was pronounced dead, and the other three were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries. Charges are anticipated against the driver, as speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash.

Criminal charges filed against drivers in fatal car accidents are not the only censures these individuals can face. Colorado law allows the injured parties (or their parents) and the family of the deceased to file personal injury and/or wrongful death lawsuits against the driver, as well as anyone else with ownership interest in the vehicle. While these suits are handled in civil court, evidence gathered by police for the criminal charges can be used to support a claim for monetary damages.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33438372018-07-11T20:06:00Z2018-07-11T20:05:00Z
Three people have tragically lost their lives following a car accident in El Paso County, according to police. Colorado Springs State Patrol responded to the crash on the evening of July 4. The driver was killed in the accident, so no criminal charges will be forthcoming, but as is all too common in car accidents on holidays, both speed and alcohol have been considered factors in the crash.

According to the accident report, the 30-year-old driver was headed westbound on Falcon Highway around 6:47 p.m. when his vehicle began to drift to the right of the highway. The driver apparently overcorrected, forcing the car into a counter-clockwise spin. This caused the car to strike a utility post and a delineator post, which ejected all four occupants of the vehicle.

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The driver and three male passengers, aged 45, 37 and 48 respectively, were not wearing seat belts when the collision occurred. Three of the men were pronounced dead on the scene, while the 48-year-old survived received only minor injuries. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, including the possibility that the driver might have been intoxicated.

Car accidents predicated on drunk driving are preventable if the driver adheres to Colorado laws pertaining to safe motor vehicle operation. While criminal charges are not filed posthumously, the families of the deceased passengers as well as the injured surviving man may be entitled under state law to file wrongful death and/or personal injury suits against the driver's estate. If proof exists that he was under the influence of alcohol, this evidence can be used in civil court to support these suits.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33340842018-07-05T13:50:26Z2018-07-05T13:49:27Z
One man is dead and another is seriously injured following a serious car accident on Colorado 66 near Lyons. The Colorado State Patrol has confirmed that one person died at the scene, and that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash. So far, they have not filed charges, but their investigation is still ongoing as of this report. Even if no criminal charges are filed, a wrongful death suit might still be possible.

According to the limited information available, it appears an unidentified man was driving on Route 66 around 11 p.m. the night of June 30 when the accident occurred. A head-on collision took place between him and another driver, who was also not identified publicly by police. No passengers were present in either vehicle, so the injuries were limited to the two drivers.

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The first driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident from massive injuries. The other driver was rushed to a local health center with injuries described as serious. Police have not elaborated on which driver they believe might have been drinking, but they have cited intoxication as a possible cause for the accident. They are still following up regarding this potential cause.

If it turns out alcohol was involved, and the person drinking is the surviving driver, Colorado police may file criminal charges. While criminal charges are not filed posthumously, if the deceased driver was drinking, the injured man could still file a personal injury lawsuit against his estate. Under Colorado law, the family of the deceased could choose to file a wrongful death suit against the surviving driver should the evidence support such a move.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33196532018-06-26T23:58:47Z2018-06-26T23:57:47Z
A motorcyclist in El Paso County tragically lost his life after a crash involving a car on the morning of June 23. The Colorado State Patrol is still in the process of investigating the crash, and they have not yet filed charges against the driver of the car involved in the accident. Motorcycle accidents often prove fatal, so thankfully the family of the deceased man has precedent in filing a wrongful death suit in civil court apart from any criminal charges that might be filed.

According to the accident report, just before 9 a.m. a motorcycle headed eastbound on a local street was stopped at a red light. A vehicle driven by a 45-year-old woman apparently failed to stop in time and struck the motorcycle from behind. The force of the impact was enough to push the bike into the intersection, ejecting its 80-year-old male rider. He was rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

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The driver of the car suffered only minor injuries in the crash as she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. Police do not believe speed or alcohol consumption were factors in the crash. Their investigation is ongoing.

Motorcycle accidents are all-too common in Colorado, and often result in fatalities. State law will allow the family to file a wrongful death suit against the driver of the car in civil court. If police uncover any evidence the driver was negligent or reckless in her operation of her vehicle, this could be offered to support the family's case in civil court.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33133112018-06-19T15:55:28Z2018-06-19T15:54:28Z
A serious rollover crash late in the morning of June 16 has left one person dead and another seriously hurt. Colorado State Patrol responded to the fatal car crash on Interstate 25 near Colorado City. One individual was pronounced dead, and the other was taken to a local hospital. Though the cause of the accident has not been determined, criminal charges and/or a wrongful death suit may be in the cards for the driver.

According to the very limited accident report, only a single vehicle was involved in the crash. The driver, who has not been identified publicly, was traveling southbound near mile marker 79 around 11:45 a.m. when the accident occurred. For reasons that have not yet been ascertained, the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over. This blocked the right lane of I-25.

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The single passenger, who has also not been identified pending notification of next-of-kin, did not survive the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was airlifted via Flight for Life to a hospital with injuries presumed to be severe. The relationship between the driver and passenger has not yet been confirmed. The ensuing police investigation kept much of the highway closed for several hours.

It will take more time for the investigation to conclude with a satisfactory cause for the accident. Once it does, Colorado law may require that charges be filed against the driver for negligence or recklessness. However, even if no such charges are filed, the family of the deceased are entitled under state law to file a wrongful death suit against the driver in civil court. In such a setting, the family is entitled to present any evidence of culpability on the part of the driver to support their claim.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.33071832018-06-14T12:32:20Z2018-06-14T12:31:21Z
A seventh-grade student was tragically killed in a crash the night of June 8. Colorado police have identified the 13-year-old student, who attended a nearby school. The driver of the pickup truck involved in the crash has been apprehended. He is now being held in a county jail on suspicion of DUI and vehicular homicide, among several other charges. Even if he is not found guilty of the criminal charges, the boy's family are entitled to file a wrongful death suit against him in civil court as well.

According to the accident report, around 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the crash. It appears the boy was walking when the pickup truck ran into him. He was seriously injured and was rushed to the hospital. He was pronounced dead sometime later. The boy's school has since provided grief counseling services to the students and families, working closely with the school district's psychological response team.

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While it is not clear what caused officers to believe the driver was drunk, he was nevertheless booked into custody. He stands charged with vehicular homicide, a class-3 felony, driving under the influence of alcohol and careless driving resulting in death. Police have reached out to anyone who may have witnessed the accident.

Of course this is a horrific tragedy, and particularly if alcohol was indeed involved in the accident, it is likely the driver involved will face jail time. However, a wrongful death suit does not require a conviction or even criminal charges to be filed in such a case. Colorado civil courts will hear the complainants, and plaintiffs are welcome to use police evidence to support their claim for damages.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.32976632018-06-07T04:06:55Z2018-06-07T04:05:55Z
A collision on U.S. Highway 160 caused road closures and sent two people to the hospital, according to local news. Colorado State Patrol, in conjunction with the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office, responded to the accident along with fire and other emergency crews. As with many car accidents of this type, an investigation is still underway into its cause, and so far, no charges have been filed.

According to the accident report, authorities were called in shortly after 2 p.m., responding to a car accident involving two vehicles. It appears a vehicle driven by a 71-year-old man was attempting to negotiate a left-hand turn from County Road 34 onto the eastbound highway. As he was entering the turn, a 25-year-old man headed westbound T-boned his vehicle. The force of the impact trapped the older man in his vehicle, where he needed to be extricated by emergency crews.

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The man was rushed to a local hospital via ambulance in critical condition. The other man's injuries were not reported, but he was also transported to hospital in an ambulance. Police closed the highway for the better part of an hour in both directions to take stock of the accident. Their investigation is ongoing.

In car accidents where a clear cause is not immediately evident, further investigation is necessary before Colorado authorities will determine whether charges will be filed. Given that both drivers were alone in their vehicles and both sustained injuries, it will remain to be seen which of them is considered materially responsible for the crash. Both men are entitled to file personal injury suits against one another in civil court, but both will need to provide compelling evidence in order for the court to award damages to one or both individuals.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.32846882018-05-28T15:29:08Z2018-05-28T15:28:08Z
A 48-year-old man who was killed in what police believe to be a hit-and-run crash on the night of May 19 has been identified, according to police. Colorado Springs authorities identified the man, who was killed by a vehicle whose driver is apparently still at large. As with most hit-and-run car accidents, police have reached out to the community in the hopes of catching the driver responsible for the tragic death.

From the accident report, it appears sometime just before 10 p.m. the night of May 19, the 48-year-old man was walking in a neighborhood on the northeast side of the city. A vehicle police believe to be a pickup truck reportedly struck the man, who was found lying in the middle of the road. The driver who struck him did not wait for police to arrive or attempt to render aid.

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The man was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police are circulating descriptions of the vehicle involved, which is believed to have suffered front-end damage in the crash. They have urged locals to reach out to police directly, or to leave anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.

Fatal car accidents predicated on hit-and-run collisions can result in considerable criminal charges for the driver found responsible. Separately, Colorado law will allow the family of the victim to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver who fled the scene. This suit, while not criminal in nature, can make use of existing evidence pertaining to the case when it is presented to a civil court.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.32795482018-05-23T22:29:23Z2018-05-23T22:28:23Z
A serious crash in Colorado Springs has sent several people to the hospital and left one driver with a citation, according to local and state police. Colorado authorities were dispatched to the scene of the crash that reportedly involved three vehicles. As with most car accidents causing injury, this incident is still being investigated.

Police say on the evening of May 21, a westbound dump truck was traveling on Interquest Parkway while loaded with asphalt. An SUV carrying several passengers as well as a 10-passenger van were both waiting to make left and right-hand turns respectively. The SUV reportedly pulled out in front of the dump truck, causing the initial collision.

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The force of the impact pushed both the SUV and the passenger van into a concrete sign, trapping several people in both vehicles. Emergency services were able to extricate everyone, with two people being taken to local hospitals. Thankfully, their injuries were not described as serious. The SUV driver was cited for an improper left-hand turn.

When car accidents cause injuries, even reportedly minor ones, the long-term implications of those injuries are not always immediately apparent. Even seemingly minor injuries can lead to health problems further down the line, which is why even in the absence of formal criminal charges, Colorado law allows those injured in car accidents to file personal injury suits in civil court against the driver or drivers believed responsible. These suits require evidence of negligence that either caused or materially contributed to the accident before the court will award damages to the plaintiff/s.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.32701372018-05-16T10:24:20Z2018-05-16T10:23:20Z
A man is facing criminal charges after a car accident that police say was caused by a faulty brake system. Colorado authorities contend the man, 29 years old, was aware of the brake issue and drove the vehicle anyway, leading to the injury of a 6-year-old girl who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash. As with most car accidents, this incident is still under investigation by local police.

According to the accident report, the man was driving eastbound on a local roadway in Colorado Springs on the morning of May 4 when the accident occurred. Reportedly, the man ran a red light before crashing into a construction trailer being hauled by another vehicle. The girl, who was unrestrained in the front seat, was rushed to a local hospital with unknown injuries. She is currently recovering.

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It is unknown whether the man suffered any injuries as a result of the crash. However, there is no mention of him being taken to a hospital. He was arrested by officers on the scene and charged with vehicular assault, as well as felony child abuse. If convicted, he could face significant penalties, including fines and jail time.

As with most car accidents, in addition to any criminal sentencing that might result from the trial, Colorado law also allows the family of the injured girl to file a personal injury lawsuit against him in civil court. Given the nature of the accident, the fact that the man lost control of the vehicle is likely sufficient to establish negligence in civil court. It would have been his responsibility to ensure her safety in the vehicle, including proper restraints and seating. The family may be able to use evidence gathered by police to support a claim for monetary damages in civil court.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.32593562018-05-08T13:36:32Z2018-05-08T13:35:32Z
One person is dead following a deadly crash in Colorado Springs on the night of May 2, according to local news sources. Colorado police are still determining the cause of the accident, but they believe speed may have been a factor. They have not ruled out the possibility that alcohol may also have played a role, as it does in many car accidents both here and around the nation.

According to the preliminary report, a southbound vehicle driven by an unknown person was traveling on South Academy Boulevard around 8:17 p.m. when the accident occurred. Apparently, this individual crashed into another car that was attempting to negotiate a left-hand turn onto the same road. The driver of the southbound vehicle was reported dead in the impact; however, the person remains unidentified pending notification of next-of-kin.

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The conditions of the person or persons in the other vehicle are not known at this time, but it seems likely that they may have been injured as well. Police shut down the intersection throughout the night to facilitate their investigation and reopened lanes early the following day. So far, they have not released a report confirming the cause of the crash.

In some car accidents, it can be difficult to assign blame to one or more drivers if the cause of the crash remains unknown. Colorado police will work with local authorities to determine whether the deceased driver was drunk or behaving recklessly in a way that led materially to the accident. If this is determined to be the case, any and all injured parties in the struck vehicle are entitled under state law to file personal injury suits against the driver's estate and/or other owners of the vehicle involved in the crash. Of course, no criminal charges will be filed posthumously.

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tag:www.jarzobskilaw.com,2018:/blog//45131.32520212018-05-02T12:53:34Z2018-05-02T12:52:34Z
Tragically, two people have lost their lives following a serious car accident on Highway 287 the morning of April 30. Colorado State Police have confirmed that two vehicles were involved in the accident, though one of the two drivers apparently survived the crash. As with most car accidents of this magnitude, police closed the highway both ways to facilitate their investigation.

The details of exactly how the crash occurred are still not clear, but police say a vehicle driven by a 40-year-old woman from Thornton collided with a vehicle driven by a 56-year-old woman. Police have not determined which driver or drivers were responsible for the crash. However, the impact was severe enough that both the 40-year-old woman and her 44-year-old passenger, a man, were killed in the accident.

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The woman driving the other vehicle survived the crash, but she apparently suffered severe injuries and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of her injuries and her current condition are not known. Police have not released the identities of any of the individuals involved in the crash, including the relationship between the two deceased parties, pending notification of next-of-kin.

Car accidents that cause fatalities are always carefully scrutinized by specialists working with Colorado law enforcement, especially when their cause is not immediately apparent. In this case, the only person who could face criminal charges is the surviving driver, and only if police determine she is believed to have committed an offense in relation to the fatal crash. However, any and all parties, including the families of the deceased, could be entitled to file personal injury and/or wrongful death suits against either or both drivers, depending upon the gathered evidence.